The release contains 20 gospel selections covering Cash's CBS recording career from 1958 to 1986. One of the reasons Cash made the switch from Sun Records to Columbia Records in 1958 was the promise by producers Don Law and Frank Jones of more musical freedom in doing concept projects as well as devoting more time to the gospel aspect of his career. A good collection and overview of the Cash gospel material and an excellent addition to any Cash fan's record library. But then I'm a little prejudice...I WROTE THE LINER NOTES!!!!
I used to think that GOSPEL GLORY was my favorite Johnny Cash Gospel CD, but this CD collection, JUST AS I AM, includes 9 out of the 10 songs on GOSPEL GLORY, and then adds 11 more Gospel songs from Johnny's career, so JUST AS I AM is my new favorite Johnny Cash Gospel CD!
The songs span most of his career, up to 1999 when this CD came out. It starts out a bit old fashioned, with Johnny's older Gospel style of the 1950s and 60s, but by the middle of this CD, it gets around to his 1970s style, which is my favorite era for Johnny Cash Gospel songs.
There are many classic Christian songs that are great to hear Johnny's rendition of; "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "The Great Speckled Bird," "Peace in the Valley," "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder," "Amazing Grace," "In the Sweet By and By," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Rock of Ages," "Softly and Tenderly," wow!
"Daddy Sang Bass" is the only bona fide Johnny Cash hit song on the CD, about singing Gospel songs with your family.
"The Ten Commandments" is a great song about Moses and the 10 Commandments. It is a great tune that makes it easier to remember all 10 Commandments, once you memorize the words to this song, if you are so inclined.
This CD is 55 minutes long. There are other Johnny Cash Gospel compilation CDs and other studio albums on CD, but overall, I think this is the single best CD to buy if you are looking for Johnny Cash singing Gospel, and this CD is my most heartily recommended Johnny Cash Gospel CD, this should be your first stop.
After you get this CD, I would then recommend the Johnny Cash Gospel CD compilation named GOD, which is just as entertaining, but not as heavily packed with so many Christian traditional, standard tunes as JUST AS I AM. GOD is available as a single CD, or as part of a "budget" priced, 3-CD box set, LOVE, GOD, MURDER, which you should consider if you like Johnny Cash beyond his Gospel songs.
MY MOTHER'S HYMN BOOK is a good studio album of songs recorded specifically for one CD release, not a career compilation. MY MOTHER'S HYMN BOOK has great CD booklet liner notes about each song, which are recorded with just Johnny strumming his guitar, very simply and very nicely done, in his elder years. PERSONAL FILE is a similar sounding 2 CD set, with just Johnny and his single guitar, with the second disk being entirely Gospel tunes, collected from his private recordings circa the 1970s, and has better singing and playing, but less focus and intensity than MY MOTHER'S HYMN BOOK.
Oh, and make sure you have the
16 CD set of Johnny Cash reading the entire NEW TESTAMENT! That is incredibly cool! There's no music, just Johnny reading the Bible aloud. The Book of Revelation fits nicely on its own CD in the set. Sweet!
Although the other worthy compilations are "God", and "The Gospel Collection." This cd finds Cash in fine form throughout, singing such slassics as Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace, Swing Low..., and In The Sweet By & By, with conviction and feeling. This cd is both uplifting and powerfull, artisticly speaking. Beautiful...
"Just As I Am" by Johnny Cash is a very full cassette filled with the most masculine voice of today singing hymns that usher beautiful memories into my mind, relaxing me and lifting my spirit with joy. This cassette is one of my most treasured ones.
Johnny Cash is one of my favorite entertainers. The movie Walk the Line really rekindled my interest in Johnny Cash. I also truly enjoy my faith and the story of Johnny Cash's faith. In my opinion, Johnny's songs of faith are better than his standard hits. He really sings them with a deep love for the Lord in his voice. This album is a great example of Johnny singing to the Lord. Each song is very good. I have many favorites on this album.
